350 Narrative of the Travels of Khwajah Ahmud Shah. [No. 4. 



in Klioottan is nine days' journey. Khoottan is a district containing 

 six towns, viz. : Kurrakash, lichee, Uronakash, Shukra Cheera, 

 Kurria, and Tagh. 



Kurrakash. There is a large river near to this place which 

 is crossed by boats, and the horses here are taught to swim. 



lichee is the residence of the Umban of the district ; the name 

 of the present man is Ulsh Beg, 



Uronakash. From lichee this place is distant half a day's 

 journey, and between the two the Uronakash river has to be 

 crossed ; in the season when this is shallow, the people of the coun- 

 try find johurs, which are described as precious stones, which when 

 clear are valued at their own weight in silver. They are used by 

 the Chinese for making handles of knives and plates of different 

 descriptions. 



Shukra Cherra. In this place they manufacture a great deal 

 of silk and many carpets. 



Kurria. This is also a great place for silk. 



Tagh. The climate of this district is good ; grapes are dried 

 here to a great extent ; the ordinary fruits of Tarkund are plentiful. 



The men of Khoottan are extremely handsome, and by order of 

 the emperor of China, the whole of the population have to go during 

 the winter months to a place (name forgot) distant forty days' 

 march, and there dig for gold, for which they respectively receive 

 seven puis of silver (equal to about 30 Rs.) whatever be the re- 

 sult of their operations ; the gold that is collected, all becomes the 

 property of the government. All over the Yarkund country, Chinese 

 coinage is in general currency. 



Prom Yarkund, going by Aksoo, it is fifty-eight days' journey to 

 Ihl, near to which the Russians have their frontier Cantonments, 

 the head Chinese functionary in this place is called Joongtang. 



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There are no Russians in Ihl itself, but this is one of the routes 

 by which Russian goods find their way into China, and Chinese 

 commerce passes up into the Russian territories. 



After receiving my passports I returned to Kashgurh where I 

 arrived on the , here I found that Kasim Jan had returned 



